What Is The Outlook For People With Dehydration Headaches
Most dehydration headaches get better after drinking water and taking it easy for a while. If headaches keep happening, you may have chronic dehydration. Chronic dehydration can lead to serious medical problems, including kidney stones and urinary tract infections . People who arent hydrated have a higher risk of heat exhaustion and other heat illness.
Dehydration can trigger a migraine headache. If you get migraines, its essential to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated may help you prevent a migraine attack.
How Abdominal Migraine Is Diagnosed
Abdominal pain, headaches, nausea, and vomiting can be signs of other conditions, so your doctor has to rule out other problems to diagnose abdominal migraine. Your doctor will do a physical exam and may order blood tests and imaging tests. Conditions theyll be checking for include inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and infections.
The criteria for diagnosing abdominal migraine from The International Classification of Headache Disorders are:
- Moderate to severe, chronic, and recurring abdominal pain
- Bouts that last more than one hour
- Having at least two of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, headache, paleness, poor appetite, or photophobia
- Pain severe enough to interfere with normal activities
- Bouts separated by weeks or months. In between, your child does not get symptoms.
- Having at least two episodes in a 6-month period
Pro Tip
Keeping track of when the symptoms happened, how long they lasted, if there were any other symptoms present or if any triggers, such as stress or food, were present can be so helpful in establishing a pattern and making a diagnosis. Dr. Hoerst
How Do I Know If I Have A Dehydration Headache
There are many different types of headaches. Some headaches have no known cause. Healthcare providers call these primary headaches.
Dehydration headaches are secondary headaches because providers know what causes them. You probably have a dehydration headache if:
- Headache pain goes away or gets better with water and rest.
- Pain is only in your head .
- You also have other symptoms of dehydration.
If your headache doesnt get better after drinking water and resting, see your provider for a checkup. Another condition or illness may be causing your headache. Your provider may order imaging studies to see pictures of your brain and determine whats causing the pain.
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How Is Abdominal Migraine Treated
Once a child is diagnosed with abdominal migraine, treatment generally falls into two categories: relieving symptoms during an episode and preventing future episodes.
While there are few studies on the treatment and management of abdominal migraine, doctors may prescribe the following medications, based on their usefulness in treating migraines:
- NSAIDs or acetaminophen to relieve the pain.
- Triptans. This family of drugs is commonly used to treat migraine headaches and, if taken as soon as a migraine starts, can prevent symptoms from progressing.
- Anti-nausea medication. Anti-nausea drugs act by blocking chemicals in the brain that trigger vomiting.
Some studies have shown evidence to support the use of the following medications in preventing abdominal migraine:
- Pizotifen, a benzocycloheptene-based drug.
Symptoms Of An Abdominal Migraine
The primary symptom of abdominal migraine in adults is pain in the abdomen, usually located around the navel . The pain is usually described as dull, rather than piercing, but it is still intense. Oftentimes, people with abdominal migraines arent able to go about their day because of the pain. Vomiting is common in kids with abdominal migraines, but less common in adults. Still, adults sometimes experience nausea and vomiting.
Attacks of abdominal migraine can last 272 hours. Between the attacks, the person with a migraine usually feels fine, with no lingering symptoms.
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The Complete Abdominal Migraine Guide
Abdominal migraine is a rare condition that primarily affects children but can very rarely affect adults. It is commonly stated that around 10% of children between the ages of 5 and 15 suffer from abdominal migraines, but other studies show that number to be a little over 4% are affected.
However, in Europe, the diagnosis of abdominal migraine is much more prevalent, because in the US it is often misdiagnosed. The healthcare system in Europe seems to have a much better grasp of the condition while US doctors are still struggling to understand it. A 2009 study found that it is likely that as many as 15% of pediatric gastrointestinal patients who present with abdominal pain that is idiopathic and recurrent likely have abdominal migraine.
As the name suggests, abdominal migraines are not what most people think of when they hear migraines they arent headaches. Instead, they cause pain in the stomach and often include intense pain cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
They tend to share the same triggers as migraine headaches and often occur in families where members are prone to migraines. Whats more, children who have abdominal migraines usually get the headache version as well or they develop as the child matures. The link between abdominal migraines and the migraines that produce headaches is still a bit of a mystery for doctors.
Treatment For Abdominal Migraines
Your childs doctor might prescribe anti-migraine medications that your child can use daily to prevent future attacks or at the time to relieve discomfort during an attack. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also be helpful when managing chronic pain or reducing stress that could trigger a migraine episode. Occasionally your childs doctor might recommend complementary therapies such as acupuncture.
Once your childs abdominal migraines are under control, you will no longer need to see a GI specialist.
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Three Types Of Headache Due To Gas
There are three types of headache due to gas.
#1 A headache that starts in the temples, and slowly proceeds to the center of your head
#2 A headache that feels like a band is squeezing your entire head
#3 A headache that comes with congestion or runny nose
This article will help you understand what solutions may work for your type of headache.
When To Get Medical Advice
You should see a GP if you have frequent or severe migraine symptoms that cannot be managed with occasional use of over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol.
Try not to use the maximum dosage of painkillers on a regular or frequent basis as this could make it harder to treat headaches over time.
You should also make an appointment to see a GP if you have frequent migraines , even if they can be controlled with medicine, as you may benefit from preventative treatment.
You should call 999 for an ambulance immediately if you or someone you’re with experiences:
- paralysis or weakness in 1 or both arms or 1 side of the face
- slurred or garbled speech
- a sudden agonising headache resulting in a severe pain unlike anything experienced before
- headache along with a high temperature , stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, double vision and a rash
These symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a stroke or meningitis, and should be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible.
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Treatment Options For Abdominal Migraine
When diagnosing abdominal migraine, it is important that the doctor takes the medical history and physically examines the patient to rule out or to diagnose other diseases.
Treatment is often similar to that for other types of migraine, but options are more limited for children. It usually includes acute treatments, such as simple painkillers and preventive treatments to reduce how often the attacks occur, and how severe they are.
As with other types of migraine, it can be helpful to review triggers that may contribute to the attack. These can include bright light, poor sleep, travel or hunger. Stress and dealing with difficult emotions can also be a trigger. Avoiding or limiting these triggers may help with reducing the number of attacks.
What Is An Abdominal Migraine
Abdominal migraine causes repeated bouts of stomach pain. It mostly occurs in children. Kids with abdominal migraine often have other symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and vomiting.
Abdominal migraine attacks, also known as gastric headaches or stomach migraines, are very painful and can interfere with a childs daily activities, including school.
The symptoms can usually be treated with over-the-counter medications. Children who have abdominal migraine have a greater risk of developing migraine headaches as adults.
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Migraine In Children And Adolescents
Migraine is a complex and disabling inherited neurological condition which occurs in 4-10% of children. Nearly half of children with migraine never receive a diagnosis. It can be a cause of undiagnosed abdominal pain or headache in children. Studies suggest that around 60% of children aged between 7 and 15 experience headache but the diagnosis may be delayed because the presentation is not always one of headache. Abdominal pain, cyclical vomiting, travel sickness, limb pain and episodic dizziness can all confuse the picture. Headache may be absent or not follow the pattern more commonly associated with migraine in adults.
Migraine can result in severe impact on the life of a child but also on their family, school life and social activities. Missing the diagnosis can result in further harms to the child including poor management of their symptoms, anticipatory anxiety about future attacks, inappropriate/ineffective medication use, a loss of confidence and low self esteem, poor attendance at school or school refusal and even being mislabelled as a malingerer. see Factsheet: Advice to schools.
Migraine affects boys and girls equally until puberty, after which migraine is more prevalent in girls . Severe pain and vomiting which are not treated effectively can mean that children often have to remain at home during attacks and are unable to participate in normal daily activities.
Cause Of Gastric Headache #1
The most likely cause for a headache where pain starts in your temples
is stomach acid imbalance.
This usually happens when youve skipped a meal, or not eaten enough.
In Ayurveda, this is commonly referred to as pitta headache.
People who usually have headache type 1 usually also have indigestion, hyperacidity or heartburn.
Is your stomach clean or dirty?
80% of Indians score less than 70/100
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Talking To Your Childs Doctor About Abdominal Migraine
If your child is experiencing symptoms that you feel may be abdominal headaches, the more you can tell their doctor, the better. Show them the migraine diary that you have been keeping for your child and tell them about any symptoms that really concern you.
Abdominal migraine is an unusual condition and many doctors are not well acquainted with the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, or treatment. A migraine specialist may be a better option for diagnosing and treating your child. These doctors specialize in migraines and may be better equipped to provide a diagnosis. They can then work with you to create a treatment plan for your child that will help prevent attacks and relieve symptoms in the event an attack occurs.
However, talking to a specialist or your childs pediatrician can be a daunting task. Having an open, honest conversation and sharing as much information as possible give the doctor insight into certain lifestyle triggers and any familial traits that can be causing the attacks. Often, though, the diagnosis starts at home. It begins with parents observing their childs behavior and noting their illness. From there it leads to the doctors office and testing. Still, the parents are the key. Dr. Caminez offers some signs parents can look for.
When To Call A Doctor
Most headaches and stomach aches in children are not serious, but they can be. If you notice your childs pain is getting worse, they are waking from sleep because of the pain, their personality is changing, or they have a fever or stiff neck, you should make an appointment with your pediatrician immediately.
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When Should I Take My Child To The Doctor
It may be obvious, particularly if you have migraine yourself, that your childs symptoms are typical of migraine. If attacks have obvious causes, symptoms respond to painkillers, and your child is otherwise fit and well, it is probably not necessary to seek a doctors advice. However, you should make an appointment for your child to see a doctor if there is any doubt about the nature or cause of the headaches, if your child seems generally unwell, or if the headaches are interfering with daily activities.
In particular, it is very important to see a doctor in the following circumstances: Headaches start under age 7 The headache changes An unaccountable increase in frequency, severity and duration of attacks Recent school failure Balance or co-ordination problems Failure to grow/attain normal developmental goals
What Types Of Migraine Occur In Children And Adolescents
There are two main types. A migraine without an aura occurs in 60% to 85% of children and adolescents who get a migraine. A migraine with an aura occurs in 15% to 30%. In young children, migraine often begins in the late afternoon. As the child gets older, migraine often begins in the early morning.
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What Is A Dehydration Headache
A dehydration-related headache happens when your body doesnt get enough fluids. Even mild dehydration can cause a headache. Usually, other symptoms of dehydration appear along with headache pain.
Dehydration headaches often get better with at-home remedies like drinking water, resting and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. If you have signs of severe dehydration , get medical help right away.
Causes Of Abdominal Migraines
Although the exact cause is unknown, researchers think migraines stem from a problem in the brain-gut pathway. Certain triggers such as stress or excitement might trigger an abdominal migraine episode.
Abdominal migraines are less common than migraine headaches, affecting about 4 percent of school-aged children.
This condition usually starts at age 7 and peaks at age 9 to 11. As children become teenagers, their abdominal migraines are often replaced by migraine headaches.
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Abdominal Migraine In Adults
Abdominal migraine occurs most often in children and is rare in adults. But if you experience chronic, recurrent abdominal pain and your doctor has ruled out other conditions, abdominal migraine could be the cause. Also, having a family history of migraines or getting migraine headaches may mean youre having abdominal migraine. Adults with abdominal migraine are treated the same as children.
How Common Are Dehydration Headaches
Nearly everyone gets a headache from time to time. Headaches are the most common type of pain. They result from many different conditions, disorders and diseases, including dehydration.
Healthcare providers arent sure how many people get dehydration headaches. In the United States, most people dont get enough fluids, either from their food or by drinking water. Lack of fluids can lead to dehydration, which causes headaches. Babies, young children and older adults have a higher risk of dehydration. People with certain health conditions also have an increased risk.
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How Common Are Migraines In Children
Migraine, also called an acute recurrent headache, occurs in about 3% of preschool children, 4% to 11% of elementary school-aged children, and 8% to 15% of high school-aged children. In early childhood and before puberty, migraine is more commonly seen in boys than girls.
Factors that can lead to a headache in your child include:
- Illness or infection
- Short-sightedness or needing glasses
- Food allergies or intolerances such as lactose intolerance or a wheat allergy
- Appendicitis, which is inflammation of the appendix
- Lead poisoning
- Problems with the intestines such as intussusception, where one part of the intestines slides into another part and causes a blockage
- Stress and anxiety
Stomach pain without other symptoms that goes away completely in less than three hours is usually not serious.
A specific illness known as a pediatric abdominal migraine can also lead to stomach ache. It is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. While its called a migraine, it doesnt actually cause a headache. Abdominal migraines are one of the most common causes of abdominal pain in children.
Remedies To Cure Headache Due To Indigestion #2
Short term relief
Two simple steps will likely help your headache subside.
Step 1: Take a tablespoon of ghee and drink 500ml of warm water
Step 2: Try this technique.
If you pay attention, youll notice this type of headache usually subsides after a good bowel movement.
Step 1 and 2 are designed to help promote a good bowel movement, fast.
If you have the space and time, a good nap can also help.
If your headache is caused because of stress or anxiety, sleep is the single most effective thing that you can do.
Long term relief
Play close attention to what causes these types of headaches.
If these headaches come when you are anxious, or when you pull an all nighter, then be more mindful.
Control the situation, so that it happens less frequently.
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What Are The Symptoms Of An Abdominal Migraine
Patients describe abdominal migraine pain as dull or sore. Its usually felt near the belly button.
Unlike a typical bellyache, however, people describe abdominal migraines as intense pain that subsides after about two hours.
Other symptoms include:
- Vomiting. According to Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin, about half the children with abdominal migraine meet the criteria for cyclic vomiting.
- Nausea
- Fatigue, listlessness, malaise
Stomach Ache Risk Factors
Risk factors associated with stomach aches in children include:
- Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression
- Emotional stress or disturbances
- Traumatic events such as abuse, a motor vehicle accident, or a poor home life
- Prior stomach infections
Some research suggests that eating a diet that is high in junk food may play a role in the onset of stomach aches in children, although more research is needed to determine whether a poor diet can be a risk factor for stomach pain.
Although the risk factors for headaches and stomach aches vary, one of the most common risk factors for both ailments is stress.
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